Power-flusher.



.JOHNSONJR.

POWER FLUSHER. APPLICATION mm AUG..t5, 1913.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I l I lllllhlll III III I HTRY8 1 1 WITNESSES: ax-mm -H. D. JOHNSON. JR.

POWER FL'USHER. APPLICATION FILED Auehts. 1913.

Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITH/E8858. .3.

Arromm UNITED sra rns PATENT orriou.

HARRY D. JOHNSON, JR., 013 SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE STUDEBA CORPORATION, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF new JERSEY.

POWERFFLUSHERI- 7 '0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HARRY Drsenow JOHNSON, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have in-. vented certain new and useful Improvements in Power- Flusliers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art towhich itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to distributing apparatus for roadways, and with regard to certain more specific features, to street flushing apparatus.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a practical portable street fiusher wherein an effective and efiicient character of liquid jet may be maintained;

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a simple and efficient portable device of thecnaracter referred to whereof a portion of the apparatus,the reservoirs forms of apparatus of the character gener with a uniform discharge of liquid may be 'efi'ected irrespective of the gravity head in the reservoir.

Another object is the provision of a practical portable flusher wherewith a full and constant discharge of liquidmay be efiected for all positions of the discharge nozzles.

Other objects and advantages will be'in part obvious and in part pointed out herein-'; v j

the width covered thereby-under in1t1al conafter.

cation of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing one of various possible embodiments of the invention, and wherein similar reference characters refer to snnllar parts throughout the several v1ews,"F1gure 1 ]S aside -elevation of the apparatus; 2 is a plan view being removed to disclose other parts more clearly;

It may here be noted thatin certain prior ally referred to, ineflicient flushing or ap-' plication of The invention accordingly consists in the width and length of the roadway, not only additional time is required but that portion of the pavement or roadway which hasbeen previously treated with a liquid is Fig. 3 is a detailview showing a nozzle in sectionalelevation; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the nozzle partlyin section. 1

the liquid to the street or roadterial operated upon, it is evident that-its efficiency in this respect decreases as the force of the jet lessens. Furthermore, when the jet is directed laterally, or at an angle to the direction of its natural flow under the influence of gravity, not only does the scouring action of the jet decrease with'dec-rease of head, but the distribution of the liquid; is

as well materially and deleteriously affected.

This latter effect is especially noticeable in that form of apparatus of the character re- Patented Apr. 11, 1916.

Application filed August 15, 1913. Seria1-No.784,861. I

ferred to wherein the jet is directed laterally 1n a thm sheet and especially where the upper edge of the jet flows-from the nozzle in a substantially horizontal direction.;- .In the latter instance, as the head decreases,

the distance to which-the water is projected also decreases, so that while at the beginning of an operation a-certain width of pavement or roadway may be cleaned, theapplication ofthe liquid gradually.decreases in width as the available pressure lessens, so :that vwhen the latter has materially decreased, the

liquid will be applied only to a fraction of ditions, and even this area is inefl'ectively is frequently necessary too erate a second time .upon asubstantial portion of the road-.

way inordervft'o apply the liquid to the full and thus treated a second time with"consequent wastev out invention avoids, among' othersgthe objections above noted. a

1 Referring now more particularly to the drawings, thenumera'l l -indicates'a reserfvoir,,tank or other receptacle'forj the liquid, provided with an. opening 2 for the" -intro-.

duction of the liquid. The opening 2 may" be-provided with a cover, .ifdesired. The liquid used in so far as the broader features of the invention are'co'ncerned,jma y be any liquid comporting. with the results desired,

such as water Where flushing or temporary laying of th'ldust are desired, oil where improvement of the roadway and a permanent laying of the dust are required. The reservoir -1 is designed to be moved over or adjacent the roadway or pavement to which the liquid isto be applied, and for this purpose may be provided with any efficient form of running gear capable of rendering the reservoir portable, but preferably is mounted upon a wheeled carrier provided with draft gear to which'horses may be attached in the manner usually employed in The carrier preferably comprises parallel longitudinal members 5 spaced apart and braced by end cross-pieces 6 and 7, the latter of which may serve for the connection of a fifth wheelas is customary. Intermediate I cross-pieces 8 cooperate with the cross-piece 7 in supporting the reservoir 1 on the carrier, and the carrier is provided with de-.,

' .22 by any efliclentmechanism as gearing or,

vices for supporting the wheels as is cus tomary upon a wheeled vehicle. An opening 9 is provided at such a point of the reservoir 1 as will permit the contents of the reservoir tdflowtherethrough by gravity, said opening being preferably located in the bottom .of the reservoir, and a conduit leads from the the opening 9' to the discharge nozzles of the apparatus, said conduit preferably comprising sections for a purpose hereinafter explained.

In the present embodiment the conduit comprises a curved nipple 10 connected to the reservoir and leading directly from the opening 9, a flexible section 11 connected to the nipple 10 and leading to-the inlet of a pump '12 supported upon a platform orf frame 13 located beneath the reservoir pref-- erably at the rear thereof; A second curved nipple 14 leads from the outlet of the pump and a secondflexible section 15 isconn'ected to the nipple l4 and to a section 16 rela-' tively stationarily supported, as by brackets 17 depending fromthe longitudinal. members5, which latter section'is connected to the discharge end or nozzle 18, from which the liquid is discharged onto the roadway; From the outlet of the pump, duplicate sections 16 are provided so that the elements of the conduit through which the pump dis-' charges comprise branches leading to oppoand this jacket 'out the-interposition of any site sides of the carrier, as will be apparent from the drawings.

The pump 12 is preferably a power pump and while the invention, viewed in some aspects, might contemplate the employment of any efficient form ofpun'ip, the invention viewed in its'special relationship involving the employment of a self-contained reservoir, utilizes a form of pump calculated to force the liquid therefrom through the nozzles at a substantially uniform pressure and rate, andit is found that a rotary, or centrifugal, pump positioned intermediate the inlet and discharge ends of the conduit accomplishes the desired results in an efficient and practical manner. The particular form of pump referred to is adapted to readily receive the liquid flowing from the reservoir by gravity and to cause the discharge of liquid through the nozzles at a substantially uniform pressure and rate irrespective of the pressure in the reservoir or the depth of the liquid therein. driving mechanism for the pump 12 may comprise any suitable form of motor, but

- in view of the special uses of the apparatus and the self-contained character of the reservoir 1, an internal combustion engine 19 having a speed governor20 is employed. Said engine is mounted upon the platform 1., its crank shaft 21 being located slightly to one side of the central longitudinal line of the carrier and power is positively transmitted fromsaid engine to the pump shaft projecting end of the pump shaft 22 is supported in a bracket 24 also mounted upon the frame .13; The engine --19 is provided with a water jacket for cooling purposes is properly connected by the flexible pipes 25 and 26 to an auxiliary water-tank. 27, in the present embodiment formed -'between the :rear end of the reservoir an dja partition 28 separating the main body of-liquidLfmm that in the auxiliary reservoir, theillquid in the auxiliary reser- ,voir being thus adapted to circulate through i the jacket andoperate as a cooling element. In the present embodiment the reservoir is, mounted 'directly'upon the carrier withresilient supporting meansjThe discharge nozzles of the conduit if permitted 1 to vibrate, might cause a. variation-in the application of the liquid to the roadway, which variation would "not be uniform owing'to thedifierent characters of roadways, and hence the discharge nozzles are so mounted on the apparatus as to maintain a stationary, as distinguished from a vibratory, condition relative to the are deterioration or interfere with their operation. Hence both the engine and the pump are yieldingly supported, preferably, as inthe present embodiment, by the provision of longitudinally disposed bow-springs 29 fastened intermediate their ends to brackets 30 bolted to the members 5. The frame 13 may, as illustrated, be of skeleton form for the purpose of lightness and its corners are provided with upstanding members 31 connected in pairs to the opposite ends of the springs 29 by means of links 32 pivoted to said springs and to the uprights 31, the

axes of the pivots being preferably transversely disposed relative to the direction of the movement of the carrier. By this construction both the pump and the engine are resiliently supported and permit vertical oscillation relative to the carrier which is desirable when the apparatus traverses a rough roadway, and a slight longitudinal oscillation may also be permitted. It will be observed, however, that any substantial lateral oscillation of the engine and motor is prevented by the construction described.

Preferably the engine is mounted beyondthe rear end of the reservoir, the members 5 also extending beyond said rear 'end to provide means'of attachment for the uprights 31 A fuel supply tank 33 is re: movably held at the upper rear portion of the reservoir 1 by means of a bracket arm 34 on the reservoir, anda similar arm onthe supply tank bolted to the first-mentioned arm. To the lower portion of the tank 33, at 35, is pivoted ahood 36, which in its lower position serves to screen. the engine and adjacent parts from the weather, dust, etc. A fuel pipe 37 connects the tank 33 with the carbureter of the engine.

As, in the present embodiment, both the nipple. 10 d the nozzles 18 are stationary relative to the reservoir and the-carrier, a

loose connection is provided between the power pump and the conduit in order to accommodate relative bodily movements of the pump. The. preferred form comprises .the conduit sections 11 and 15 which may be flexible hose of sufiicient strength to with stand the pressure, suitable packing being employed to form a liquid-tight joint with the adjoining sections of the conduit. It

' 53, respectively.

is evident that the bodily movement of the pump is thus readily permitted and at the same time said sections 11 and 15 more or less serve as shock absorbers to prevent un= due vibrations of the pump and the parts fastened thereto. 7 Inasmuch as the discharge ends or nozzles of the conduits of the present embodiment venient position to be operated from the 35 seat 3. The conduits are continued from the valve-box in pipes 41 to which latter the discharge nozzles are universally connected so that the latter may be adjusted to discharge the water in any desired direction. In the present instance the nozzle 18 is .swiveled to an angular pipe section 42, which latter in turn is swiveled to a second angular pipe section 43 'in turn swiveled. upon the pipe 41. Each swivel joint comprises clamping elements as 44 and 45 which maybe tightened by means of the bolts 46,'it being thus possible to adjust the nozzle 18 to any deslred position. Each nozzle 18 is provided with an outwardly flaring passageway, said passageway .preferably terminating 1n a narrow slot or opening adapted to ejectthe water in a flat sheet. 1 Y

47'indicates a magneto suitably geared to the engine andadapted to furnish current for the igniters of the cylinders, a suitable timer and wiring being employed as is usual in internal combustion engines. Anysuitable form of switch may be interposed in the ignition. circuit, a hand-operated switch being conventionally indicated at 50,

' within reach of theoperator on the seat 3.

The numerals 51 indicate wires of the ignition circuit leading to contacts 52 and The speed governor of the engine may be' of any approved; type, a common ball gov ernor .being conventionally illustrated as at 20, and said governormay be mounted on a stub shaft 54 projecting from the cylinder, and driven. from the crank shaft by intermeshing gears 55 and 56. The governor is connected to operate a throttle valve 57 located in the intake pipeleading from the. carbureter to the engine, and is adapted to close said valve moreor less when the'enand the engine, and nearer the carbureter and iestrain upward movement of said rod,-

thereby keeping the throttle valve 58 open,

in a variety of adjusted positions. A spring 65 is connected to the foot-rod 63 and to the platform 4, and exerts its tension to raise said foot-rod.

Although the reservoir of the apparatus may be filled from a proper source by introducing the liquid throughthe opening 2, it often happens that a suitable head of liquid is not available for such purpose, and

the present apparatus provides a means for filling the tank independently of a source having a sufficient head. To the latter end, the nipple 12 forming part of the conduit leading the liquid from the tank -'-1 to the pump 12, has a laterally-extending tubular portion 70 which is coupled to a pipe 71 supported in brackets or stirrups 72 depending from the platform 13, the pipe 71 extending to substantially the rear end of the machine. To the open rear end of the pipe 71 may be coupled one end of a flexible hose 73, the other end of saidhose being adapted to be inserted in a suitable body of liquid, such as a convenient stream or other supply of liquid. In the pipe 71.is provided a check valve 74 opening toward the pump 12.

Numeral 75 indicates a' lay-pass pipe be:-

I tween the conduit leading from the reserinto through hose voir 1 to the pump and the discharge conduit of the pump, and 76 is a hand operated valve adapted to open or close the by-pass. Numeral 77 is a second hand operated valve adapted to open and close passage through a portion of the conduit leading from tank 1 to pump 12, this latter valve being located between the by-pass'and the point where pipe 71 communicates with nipple 12. In order to fill the tank by means of the pump, the valve 76 is opened and the'valve 77 closed, whereupon the operation of. the

pump will cause li uid to be drawn there 3, pipe 71, and nipple I portion 70, and. discharged through nipple 14 and by way of the by-pass 75 into the tank. The tankhaving been filled, the valve 76 is closed and the valve 77 opened and the flusher is ready to operate, the check valve 7 4 operating to automatically .close the-"pipe 71.

flusher Without. its power features, the valve 77 may be closed and the valve 76 opened,

Shouldit be desired to utilize the 1,17e,aas

whereupon the liquid in the tank will flow directly to the nozzles without being required to pass through the pump. As it is desirable to employ liquid free from sediment which might tend to clog the passageways of the apparatus, the pipe 71 is provided with any efficient form of strainer 78 to remove sediment such as sand, etc,

- water, the proper valves being closed, and

the engine is started as by turning over the crank 48. The apparatus may then be drawn to the place in which it is to be used, whereupon the driver operates the lever or levers and the water will be discharged in a flat sheet and in any desired direction, preferably in a generally forward and downward direction with the plane of the slot of each nozzle at an angle of about 45 to the horizontal, the nozzles being turned also slightly outwardly so as to direct the sheet of water at about an angle of 45 to the line of draft. The engine being provided with a speed governor runs at constant speed, and the power of the engine is designed to be ample to discharge the water at the desired pressure when the water in the reservoir is low, or the reservoir practically empty, so that the size of the discharge sheet of liquid is maintained substantially uniform. When the reservoir is full the gravity head tends to aid the engine, and as the head decreases the engine keeps up the water pressure at the nozzles to the original uniform pressure desired. The pump may be of such design as to permit the same to run under the power of the engine though the valves 38 be closed, so that in passing parts of the roadway or objects not to be operated upon the discharge may be shut off without causing the engine to stop.

It will thus be perceived. that by the foregoing is produced a practical apparatus capable of accomplishing the objects hereinbefore referred to, and also capable of fulfof fuel sucked into the engine or to permit said rod to rise under the. influence of the spring 65 in order to decrease the amount of fuel supplied. In this wise the 'impelling force of the pump may be varied, and a force '5 as is usual in'internalcombustionmote L I nal combustion engine,

operatively connected to said engine,i s aid related to said.c0n-. frame relative to thecarrier is permitted, a

attained to keep zths aaustre tises at the nozzles. v I

- If desired, a suitable form 'ofv fri v clutch may be interposedinthe' engine, sha

, l thefal? be provided ,with the fusual acces as a pressure 'gagefgbrakes, etc,

desirable. 'It"isfurthermore'to bend i I t'is also to bennder'stood may; sue

ployed as a motor to drive thefir'eh'ic the provisionof suitable driving conne or gearing between thecrank shaft, of engine and"the wli'eels;ofztheyehicle Y Wheelsof the vehicle.

to couple and uncouple',

the internal combustion engine inay b i v y able hand controlled clutch beingiemplo ed,

As many changes, 'couldb above construction and widely different embodirn tion could be Inade withoutl dpalftin gfrom; l

the scope thereof, it is intendedfliht. jallliiiat-i "q v ter contained in'the",aboye dscription shown: in the accom an ingdrawi be interpretedfas illustrati e' ndn limiting sensefi i Having' described claim as new and desire to secure byfL' PatentisF v '4 1 A portable liquid dist rr ratus' comprising, in "combination,

a conduit adapted to, lead liquid to, said 11oz zl'e, means adapted to suppl-yfliquid to s conduit yv'itha pressurejvhich deer d ing the operation ,of 'theapparat pump operatively connected 5 to said, motor, said pump being operatively related"to 'sa'id conduit and adapted to impel "liquid; therein, and said'motor being adaptedto operate said pump with an increasing force during the operation of the apparatus, Wherebythe force of discharge from said nozzle is main pump being operatively duit andiadapted toiinpel liquid therein,

and means adapted towhereby the forcejof discharge from said nozzle'iis maintained substantially uniform:

'3. A portable liquid distributing appa-'. ratus comprising, in combination',a nozzle, v

scribed, in

'ing wheels therefor, a liquid reservoir supported by the carrier, longitudinally disposed springs mounted on the carrier on a conduit adapted to lead liquid tosaid nozzle, a reservoir disposed to supply said @011.

duit with liquid by gravity, an internal com bustion engine, a'centrifug'al pump oper'a my iilventibiti a centrifugal pump cause said engine tof "operate saidpump Withan increasing force "during' the-uoperation' of the apparatus,-

means compr sing a motor and a centrifugal charge from said stantially uniform. 4

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a carrier, support ing Wheels therefor, a liquid reservoir sup ported by the carrier, longitudinally disposed springs mounted on the carrier on opposite sides thereof, a supporting frame,

links connecting said frame to said springs whereby a longitudinal movement of. said power pump carriedby said frame, a conduitleadingfrom the bottom portion of the reservoir to the inlet ofsaid pump and apparatus of the character dean increasing force during the oper- I v ation of the apparatus and the force of disnozzle is maintained sub? means adapted to control the discharge of fliquid from the reservoirmthrough. said iconduits. I

' of said opposite sides thereof, a supportin frame, links connecting said frame to sai springs whereby a longitudinal movement of said frame relative to the carrier is permitted, a power pump carried by said frame, a conduit comprising a connection leading from the bottom portion of the reservoir to the inlet of said pump, adapted to permit vertical and longitudinal play, a conduit comprising a connection leading from the outlet ump adapted to permit vertical and longitu inal play, and means adapted to control the discharge ofJiquid from the ing wheels therefor,

frame relative to 1 a power pump carried by sald frame, a conduit leading from the reservoir to the through said engine, a centrifugalpump 'operatively con-f nected to said engine,

reservoir through 'said'conduits. 8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a carrier, supporta llqllld IQSGIVOII" supported by the carrier, springs mounted on the carrier on oppositesides thereof, a supporting frame,'links connecting said frame, to said springs whereby a movement of said the carrier is permitted,

inlet of said pump, and means adapted to control vthe discharge of liquid from the reservoir through said conduit. 1 v I 9. A portable liquid distributing apparatus comprising, in combination, a nozzle a.

conduit adapted to lead liquid to said nozzle,

means adapted to supply liqduid to said con ecreases during duit with a pressure which operation of the apparatus, amanually operable valve adaptedv to control flow nozzle, an internal combustion said pump being operatively related .to said-conduit and adaptedto impel liquid therein, and means whereby the impellmg force of the pump through said engine, a centrifugal'pump operatively con- {operable means for. varying the .fuel to said may be varied during operation of the apparatus.-

portable liquid distributing apparatus comprising,

in combination, a nozzle adapted to discharge 1i uid insheet form, a conduit adapted to lead i uid to said nozzle means adapted to supp y liquid to said conduit with a pressure which decreases during operation of the apparatus, a manually operable valve adapted to control flow through said nozzle, an internal combustion engine, a centrifugal pump operatively nected to saidengine, said pump being 'opierati'vely related to said conduit and a apted to impel liquid therein and means nected to said .englne, said pump being ogeratively related to said conduit and. a

manually supplyof engine at will, and automatically'operating means adapted, to maintain apted to impel liquid therein,

substantially uniform speed of said pump.

'Intestimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in the presence of two witnesses.

' HARRY D. JOHNSON, JR. Witnesses:

'ADOLPH COLBERG, ROBERT C. PORTER.

COH- 

